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March 19, 2010

Our View: Sauschuck a good choice as Portland PD's No. 2

The 13-year veteran of the department is a good partner for a new-to-town chief.

Portland Police Chief James Craig brought something to the city when he arrived last year after a law enforcement career in the big-city departments of Detroit and Los Angeles.

But one thing he didn't have was a long history of service to this community. His decision to hire Commander Mike Sauschuck to serve as his assistant chief is a smart move that will give balance to his organization.

Sauschuck will replace Joseph Loughlin, who retired in December after a 28-year career in the department.

Craig said he conducted a national search and reviewed strong candidates from all over the country, including current and former police chiefs and a former colleague of his from Los Angeles. Craig could have picked someone like himself, with first-hand experience in a big department in a high-crime area.

Instead, he chose someone who has made a long-term commitment to the department.

Not only has Sauschuck worked in Portland for 13 years, but he is married to Mary Sauschuck, a detective on the Portland police force.

As assistant chief, Sauschuck will be in charge of implementing community outreach initiatives and managing the department's statistical crime analysis.

He will also be a voice for the officers in his department who embrace change. "They want us to take this to the next level. They want us to be innovative and adopt the best practices nationwide, and they're willing to adapt and work with us," Sauschuck said.

As the city faces serious budget challenges, it looks like the leadership in place in the police department has the right balance of outside and inside experience to make the most of its resources.

 

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